Cycling is a great way to exercise and relieve stress. It is always nice to see what other cyclists do and how they solve various problems. Here are eight useful tips that I have picked out online that I thought would be helpful for avid cyclists and recreational bike riders alike.

Tip No. 1:
If you cycle on the roads, make sure that you know all your road signs. This knowledge could be crucial to your safety and well being. So many cyclists fall short because they failed to read a sign correctly, or simply ignored the rules of the road. Keep a copy of the road rules with you, so if you are given any trouble by traffic authorities, you can use them for reference, providing of course you are in the right.

Tip No. 2:
Make sure to stay on the trail when riding on a set out trail. Don't widen the trail by riding around muddy puddles, rather just ride straight through them. In this way the riders that follow you can also enjoy the trail.

Tip No. 3:
Keep your water bottle clean and hygienic by filling with water and placing a denture tablet in it. Leave it like this overnight. This will remove all the stains and leave it fresh smelling too.

Tip No. 4:
Keep your cycling helmet clean. With all the sweating, it can get stinky and here is an easy way to clean it. Try wearing it in the shower. Shampoo your hair and then put the helmet on and massage your scalp with the helmet for a few minutes and then rinse it out thoroughly.

Tip No. 5:
Before going for a ride, make sure to warm up. This will prevent injury and ease you into the exercise easier. You can do jumping jacks, a few stretches or even have a warm shower. A brisk walk also works wonders for loosening your joints up. When you have completed your ride, remember to do a cool down. Do this by riding slowly for the last few minutes, and then stretch out the buttocks, quads, calves and hamstrings.

Tip No. 6:
Get more sleep when training hard for an event. You should shoot for about nine hours a night, because between the 7th and 8th hour you will go into your last phase of REM sleep and this is the when the mind really starts restoring and repairing itself. You will wake up feeling alert and energized all day long if you can get this one right.

Tip No. 7:
If you rip the sidewall on your clincher tire while out for a ride, try this handy tip. Remove the tire first then insert a dollar bill or a wrapper from a power bar between the tire and the tube. Patch the tube if need be and then re-inflate. The strength of the bill or wrapper should be able to get you home safely.

Tip No. 8:
Make sure to replace worn bicycle chains regularly. Your cassette cogs and chain rings will last a lot longer. To check whether the chain is worn press lightly on the right pedal to tension the chain. Hold a twelve inch ruler against the chain. On a fresh chain the distance of twelve full links from pin to pin is exactly twelve inches. If twelve links on your chain measure 12 1/8 inches or more, then it is time to change it.

Hope you find these tips as useful as I did.